Good Guys Wear Black (1978) American Cinema/Action-Thriller RT: 96 minutes Rated PG (language, martial-arts violence, some sexual content) Director: Ted Post Screenplay: Bruce Cohn and Mark Medoff Music: Craig Safan Cinematography: Robert Steadman Release date: March 21, 1979 (US) Cast: Chuck Norris, Anne Archer, James Franciscus, Lloyd Haynes, Dana Andrews, Jim Backus, Lawrence P. Casey, Anthony Mannino, Soon-Tek Oh, Joe Bennett, Jerry Douglas, Stack Pierce. Michael Payne, David Starwalt, Aaron Norris, Don Pike, Ben Perry, Kathy McCullen. Box Office: $18.3M (US)
Rating: ***
Good Guys Wear Black would have been a great kick-ass action flick if not for all the talking. The characters talk way too much. This applies to star Chuck Norris as well. He talks when he should be putting his superior martial arts skills to work instead. As it stands, Good Guys Wear Black is a passable blend of actioner and conspiracy thriller.
Norris stars as John T. Booker, the leader of an elite team of CIA assassins called The Black Tigers. In 1973, he and his team are dispatched to the jungles of Vietnam to rescue some POWs (aka Operation Phoenix). It turns out to be a set-up orchestrated by a ruthless politician, Morgan (Franciscus, City on Fire), as part of a shady deal made with the North Vietnamese to end the war. In the end, only Booker and four of his guys make it out of the jungle alive.
Five years later, Booker just wants to leave the past behind. He tests race cars and teaches political science at UCLA. He’s approached by a reporter, Margaret (Archer, Fatal Attraction), with questions about Phoenix. She heard about it from a talkative drunk at a reception in Washington D.C. and wants details about what went down. He’s also contacted by his former CIA handler Saunders (Haynes, Room 222) who informs him that somebody is killing off the surviving members of his unit. Since it would draw too much attention if he reached out himself, he sends Booker to warn the others. Unfortunately, they always seem to get killed just minutes after Booker finds them. Who’s pulling the trigger? Moreover, who’s pulling the strings of the one pulling the trigger?
As for the second question, we all know the answer. Who else could it be but Morgan? He’s the one with the most to lose as he’s on the verge of being named Secretary of State. He can’t allow the details of Operation Phoenix to be uncovered. This aspect of Good Guys Wear Black is a no-brainer. It’s as predictable as Booker and Margaret falling into bed within hours of meeting for the first time. Ah, you gotta love the promiscuous, pre-AIDS 70s.
Directed by Ted Post (Magnum Force), Good Guys Wear Black is an entertaining but dialogue-heavy actioner with at least two cool scenes of Norris showing his stuff. In the first, he does a flying kick through the windshield of a moving car to take out the driver. In the second, he takes down multiple opponents sent to kill him. I wish there had been more scenes like this. The plot itself is rather thin and routine not to mention predictable, but I guess it’s par for the course for a low-budget B-movie intended for Saturday matinee crowds. Besides, plot is always secondary in movies like this.
Anybody that can do a flying kick through a car windshield and live to tell about it has a real gift. Norris is an amazing martial artist, but his acting skills leave something to be desired. In his second major role (the first being Breaker! Breaker!), he shows he has presence even if his laid-back style prevents him from delivering dialogue convincingly. On the other hand, who needs to deliver dialogue when it’s easier to deliver a roundhouse kick to the head? Archer is fine as the only major female character although I didn’t see a lot of chemistry between her and Norris. Franciscus does solid work as a slimy, ruthless bastard who doesn’t care who he has to step on to get to the top. Dana Andrews (Laura) shows up as a political aide with valuable information. Jim Backus, Mr. Howell from Gilligan’s Island and the voice of Mr. Magoo, contributes an amusing cameo as a doorman. Look also for Soon-Tek Oh (Missing in Action 2) as a member of Booker’s squad.
The thing about Good Guys Wear Black is that you know what you’re getting yourself into when you commit to watching it. I saw it for the first time in fall ’85 when I rented it from The Video Den. As you know, I was a teenage action junkie. Although I liked it better then, it’s still pretty good now as long as you keep your expectations low. It has some action, a few cool stunts, a neat cast and a great title. With significantly less talking, it would have great instead of good.
